Ooni Cooks

A recipe video series we developed with one of the world's most loved pizza oven brands.

Client:

Ooni UK

Ooni makes some of the world’s most beloved outdoor pizza ovens. We’ve been working with their team since 2023, and what started as a rough idea on their side evolved into something bigger: Ooni Cooks, a recipe video series we developed together and have been producing for many times since.

The concept was straightforward. Create content that shows what these ovens can really do, but make it genuinely enjoyable to watch. Not flashy product demos. Not hard-sell marketing. Just good food, honest cooking, and content that people actually want to sit with for ten minutes.

The series kicked off with a personal touch. Grant Batty, one of Ooni’s existing brand ambassadors and part of the PixelRain team, stepped in front of the camera to share a collection of approachable, elevated recipes filmed in a relaxed, home-style setting in Cornwall. Grant’s been obsessed with pizza since 2018 when he got his first oven, and in 2024 was named the UK’s Best Home Pizza Chef in a national competition judged by Bake Off winner Giuseppe Dell’Anno. When he talks through a recipe, it’s not scripted enthusiasm. He knows what he’s doing, and it shows.

With Grant’s warm presence and natural cooking talent, the series quickly resonated. Ooni has since expanded the concept, rolling it out across their global network of ambassadors, chefs and creators in the US and UK. It’s become a cornerstone of how they tell stories through food.

Why Long-Form Works

Long-form recipe content isn’t always the obvious choice. In a world of 15-second reels and scroll-stopping hooks, there’s pressure to make everything shorter, faster, more immediate.

But here’s what we’ve found: when the content is good enough, people will watch. The Ooni Cooks videos run between 8 and 12 minutes. They’re relaxed, unhurried, designed to be enjoyed rather than consumed. Viewers comment on how calming they are. They follow along. They actually make the recipes.

This is the kind of content we believe in and want to make more of. It has purpose. It has longevity. It’s not trying to trick an algorithm; it’s trying to be genuinely useful for people who love food and cooking.

The Koda 2 Pro Launch

In early 2025, Ooni came back to us to produce a new round of Ooni Cooks content as part of the launch campaign for their next-generation oven: the Koda 2 Pro.

This time, the focus was on showing off the oven’s versatility across different types of cooking, not just pizza. We developed, filmed and delivered three hero recipe films that brought that idea to life:

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Inspired by a trip to Buffalo, New York, this one’s all about bold, nostalgic flavours. Grant makes the buffalo sauce from scratch in a cast iron skillet, combining Frank’s Hot Sauce with butter, smoked paprika and a touch of vinegar for that authentic tang.

The chicken is shredded and tossed through the sauce, then layered onto a New York-style base with red onion and a drizzle of ranch. The Koda 2 Pro’s precise heat control allows for a slower bake at 370°C, giving the crust time to develop without charring the toppings.

Ultimate Burgers & Buns

This recipe shows off just how versatile the Koda 2 Pro can be. We made the brioche-style buns completely from scratch using the Ooni Halo Pro Spiral Mixer for the dough, proved them until pillowy, then baked them in the oven until golden. Once the buns were done, we grilled the burgers in the same oven using the Dual-Sided Grizzler Plate.

One compact setup, full meal prep. It’s a proper showcase of what these ovens can do beyond pizza, and the kind of weekend cooking project that’s genuinely satisfying to watch come together.

Tear & Share Garlic Knots

Proof that leftover pizza dough can become something brilliant. These garlic knots are light, crisp on the outside, fluffy in the middle, and absolutely coated in a garlic parmesan butter that soaks into every fold.

Grant shapes them by hand, lets them prove, then bakes them in a cast iron pan inside the Koda 2 Pro at a lower temperature for an even, golden finish. Perfect as a side, a starter, or honestly just eaten straight from the pan. This one resonated: 207,000 views and counting.

Ooni Koda 2 Max pizza oven setup at the start of a PixelRain recipe video shoot for Ooni UK
Garlic knots cooking in a cast iron pan inside the Ooni Koda 2 Max pizza oven during PixelRain recipe video shoot for Ooni UK
Grant Batty, Ooni ambassador and PixelRain filmmaker, holding garlic knots cooked in the Ooni Koda 2 Max pizza oven
Hands shaping pizza dough on an Ooni wooden peel during PixelRain recipe video shoot for Ooni UK
Pizza being topped with pepperoni and garlic chilli oil on an Ooni wooden peel during PixelRain recipe video shoot for Ooni UK
Freshly baked pepperoni pizza on an Ooni pizza peel in front of the Ooni Koda 2 Max during PixelRain recipe video shoot for Ooni UK
Grant Batty of PixelRain using the Ooni Halo Pro Spiral Mixer during recipe video shoot for Ooni UK
Close-up of the Ooni Halo Pro Spiral Mixer on a kitchen counter during PixelRain product shoot for Ooni UK
Grant holding a buffalo chicken pizza cooked in the Ooni Koda 2 Max outdoor pizza oven.
Garlic knot butter being spread onto dough during an Ooni Koda 2 Max recipe shoot.
Freshly baked garlic knots in a cast iron pan, cooked in the Ooni Koda 2 Max outdoor oven.
Burger with bacon, cheese, and lettuce on homemade buns baked in the Ooni Koda 2 Max.

How We Made It

We found a location in Cornwall that gave us exactly what we needed: a bright indoor kitchen space that worked as a makeshift studio, plus outdoor areas with enough cover to keep shooting when the weather turned. And it did turn. We filmed in winter. Cold, windy, wet. The ovens kept us warm, and the best part of these shoots is always eating the results.

We kept the crew small, just the two of us. Three days of filming with extra time either side for setup and packdown. Enough space to not feel rushed, enough focus to capture everything properly.

Ooni trust us to get these done without much oversight. They send a rough brief, we develop the recipes together, plan the shoot, and deliver the films plus photography for their blog and social use. They love the results. We love making them.

The Results

The three Koda 2 Pro videos have reached over 235,000 views on YouTube, with the garlic knots film picking up most of those. The comments are encouraging too: “I love how relaxing this video’s style is”, “Ooni! continue this type of videos!”, “Great video! I just made these buns to great success”. People are watching, following along, and actually making the recipes.

This is our third batch of Ooni Cooks content, and we’re currently working with Ooni on new recipes featuring more of their product range. It’s a partnership that keeps evolving.

Why This Matters

We’re huge advocates for this kind of content. Long-form, purposeful, designed to be useful rather than just seen.

In an industry that often chases trends and fleeting attention, there’s something refreshing about making films that people genuinely want to watch. Content that has a shelf life measured in years, not days. Content that builds trust with an audience rather than just reaching them.

Everything you need to know

How long does a recipe video project like this take?

From initial brief to final delivery, typically 6-8 weeks. The shoot itself for this project was three days, with pre-production for recipe development and location scouting, plus post-production for editing, grading, and delivery.

Do you develop the recipes or does the client provide them?

It depends on the project. For Ooni Cooks, we develop the recipes in collaboration with their team. Grant brings ideas based on what works well in the ovens, Ooni provides guidance on what products and techniques they want to highlight, and we shape the final concepts together.

What's included in the deliverables?

For this project: three hero recipe films (8-12 minutes each), plus photography of the cooking process for blog content and social media. We can also deliver short-form cuts for social if needed.

Can you create a series concept for our brand?

Yes, this is something we love doing. Ooni Cooks is a format we developed together with Ooni, and it’s now being used globally. If you have an idea for ongoing content, we can help shape and produce it

What does a project like this cost?

Recipe video production varies based on complexity, number of films, and whether we’re developing concepts or working from existing briefs. Get in touch and we’ll give you an honest steer based on what you’re trying to achieve.

Content that entertains, informs,
and lasts longer than a scroll.

If that’s what you’re after, we should talk.

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